Regulation, paperwork and institutions
Small-scale self-generator
Also known as: AGPE, autogenerador a pequeña escala.
Definition
This is the regulatory category for someone generating energy mainly for their own consumption, with a capacity below the threshold the regulation defines. Simplified connection conditions and net metering of surplus apply to them.
Sources: Resolución CREG 174 de 2021 (net metering regulation) (opens in a new tab)
It is the category the vast majority of residential and commercial rooftop projects in Colombia fall into. The regulation created it so a home or a shop would not face the same requirements as an industrial-scale generator: a swifter connection procedure, proportionate technical requirements and access to surplus offsetting.
Being a small-scale self-generator is not a voluntary declaration: it is the outcome of the connection process with the grid operator, which verifies the installed capacity, reviews the design and confirms the project fits the category. Until that process concludes, the system has no access to net metering however much it may already be producing.
The capacity thresholds separating small scale from other categories are set by CREG Resolution 174 of 2021 and the rules developing it. Since they can be adjusted over time, the prudent approach is to verify the current limit with the grid operator before setting the project's capacity, especially on commercial or industrial installations close to the threshold.
The essentials of Small-scale self-generator
- It covers most residential and commercial rooftop projects.
- It gives access to simplified connection and net metering of surplus.
- The status is obtained on completing the process with the grid operator.
- The capacity thresholds are defined by CREG Resolution 174 of 2021.
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Frequently asked questions about Small-scale self-generator
Is my residential installation small scale?
Almost certainly yes: a rooftop system for a home sits well below the category's thresholds. Formal confirmation comes with the grid operator's approval within the connection process.
What happens if my project exceeds the small-scale threshold?
It moves into a category with more demanding requirements and connection procedures, which lengthens timelines and adds studies. On commercial or industrial projects close to the limit it is worth assessing that boundary before fixing the capacity, because it can change the schedule entirely.
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